CONTROVERSIAL French comedian Dieudonné has been charged with defending terrorism in the wake of last week's attacks in Paris.

According to a judicial source, Dieudonné M’bala M’bala will stand trial for condoning terrorism.

The 48-year-old was placed in custody at a police station in Paris after he allegedly posted comments on Facebook which appeared to support the attackers who left 17 people dead in the bloody three-day reign of terror.

In a play on the slogan "Je suis Charlie", or "I am Charlie", the comedian is reported to have wrote: "Tonight, as far as I'm concerned, I feel like Coulibaly."

Amedy Coulibaly was killed in a police raid last week after being accused of shooting dead a policewoman before seizing a Kosher store and killing four hostages.

He in understood to have been linked to brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, who murdered 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo - including the magazine's editor, two policemen and four of France's best-known satirical cartoonists.

The brothers were also subsequently killed in a separate police raid.

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The arrest came after Dieudonné allegedly posted comments on Facebook

Dieudonné has previously caused controversy by using an arm gesture that resembles a Nazi salute.

He was also banned from entering the UK by the Home Office, while footballer Nicolas Anelka was suspended for five games after mimicking the salute on the pitch.

In the wake of last week's attacks, the French government is preparing new anti-terrorism measures and says it will crack down on anyone who defends terrorism.

On Monday, a man who praised the attackers in a drunken rant while resisting arrest was sentenced to four years in prison.

Today, copies of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo sold out in minutes, with some selling for more than £1,500 on eBay.

In an emotional act of defiance, the satirical magazine features a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad on the front cover.

The exact number of copies of the magazine that will be on sale in the United Kingdom is not yet known.

Wholesalers Smiths News, Comag and Menzies Distribution said they would be distributing it.

However, retailer WH Smith said that it would not be selling the magazine as it does not usually stock the title.